People living near a Falmouth pub fear plans to extend its opening hours could mean it will turn into a nightclub.

The Kings in Church Street had applied to alter its licence so it can stay open until 3.30am from Thursday to Saturday, until 2.30am on Mondays and 1.30am on all other days. It currently remains open until 2.30am Thursday to Saturday and 1.30am on all other days.

However, following consultation with the police and environmental protection the applicants have revised their request so that alcohol would not be served beyond 2.30am and the premises closes at 3am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Opening times would also not be extended on Mondays and Thursdays.

The application has attracted some opposition from local residents who are concerned about how the changes could affect them.

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One objector said: "Late night/early morning drinking will encourage more people to loiter around this area. The pub is almost opposite Old Chapel Yard. Intoxicated people could and do use the lane to urinate, apply graffiti and sleep in the car park of the empty council premises. I already have to dispose of broken beer glasses and bottles on a regular basis and late opening and music is likely to make this worse."

Another said: "We have grave concerns that this will in effect turn a public house into a nightclub. There are already many nightclubs in a very small area of Falmouth and these attract large numbers of students. Students have no commitment to the area and little awareness of the nuisance they cause to residents by their rowdy, antisocial behaviour on leaving the premises."

Manager Matt Tomsett outside The Kings, which has recently held the No 1 Cornish pub spot on TripAdvisor

One objector highlighted that the pub is in the Falmouth Cumulative Impact Zone which seeks to reduce the impact of multiple licensed premises.

They said: "If this application were to be approved it would mean that in a 160-metre length of street with no side roads three high-capacity licensed premises would all disgorge patrons onto the street at the same closing time."

Manager Matt Tomsett said at the time that he welcomed the ratings and that a lot of work had gone into making the pub a success.

He highlighted his chef and staff as key to the success, talking about the staff he said: "They take great pride in what they do and even when it’s four-deep at the bar at the weekends, they are all smiles. I’m more than happy to state that we’re the fastest pub at serving at night in Falmouth.”

The licence application is set to be considered by Cornwall Council's licensing act sub-committee when it meets on Wednesday (November 14).